COLLEGE STATION - A swanky television network beaming from the state's capital has threatened to do what the departures of Nebraska and Colorado could not - bust up the Big 12. Texas A&amp;M president R. Bowen Loftin on Thursday used the term "uncertainty" time and again in describing the state of the league, thanks to the start of the ESPN-owned Longhorn Network in Austin next month.

"The (recent) announcement by ESPN that the Longhorn Network might carry a conference (football) game in addition to a non-conference game was troubling, and then following right after that was ESPN's announcement regarding high school games being televised as well," Loftin said. "Both of those, we believe, provide a great deal of uncertainty right now for us and the conference."

The Aggies' uprising against the $300 million enterprise has appeared to pay off for A&amp;M. Hours after Loftin addressed the issue after a closed-door session by A&amp;M regents concerning the matter, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe released a statement.

"Until the (Big 12) members have a chance to consider all of the issues and come to a conclusion about how the conference will manage interplay between the conference television package and institutional networks, no more than one live football game will be televised on any institutional network," Beebe said. "And no high school content will be televised on a branded member's network."

Recruiting issues remain

Loftin said the LHN has no business showing Big 12 football games and especially high school games that might target top recruits.

"If (they show) one conference game, then maybe we have two or three," Loftin said. "High school games are very problematic. … If we have an unequal playing field for various schools (concerning recruiting), we think that is a problem. That creates uncertainty."

ESPN and Texas A&amp;M athletic director Bill Byrne also chimed in on the suddenly touchy subject.

"We recognize more discussions need to take place to properly address the questions raised by the conference," ESPN said in a statement. "This is uncharted territory for all involved, so it's logical for everyone to proceed carefully."

The Longhorn Network is scheduled to launch Aug. 26.

"We are pleased that the commissioner has started to address these concerns, but many questions remain," Byrne said in a statement.

SEC talk heating up again

Loftin also is aware the Longhorn Network has caused a swell of support among many A&amp;M fans for a move to the Southeastern Conference.

"There certainly have been emails and phone calls that I've received about that topic," Loftin said.

In June of last year, A&amp;M nearly bolted for the SEC after Nebraska split for the Big Ten and Colorado the Pac-12. A last-hour pledge by Beebe for bigger payouts saved the conference. Asked if he had been in touch with the SEC, Loftin said, "I've had no contact with the SEC in quite some time."

Loftin added that he understands A&amp;M fans' ongoing interest in the SEC.

"Many people see the SEC as the country's strongest football conference," he said. "Certainly, looking at the last five national championships, you get that idea. … But the Big 12 has had great success, too."

Loftin pointed to A&amp;M's recent athletics success, including national titles in track and field and women's basketball.

"We don't want to lose that," he said. "The Big 12 is not a bad place to be. It's a good place to be right now. … The Big 12 has great potential to be a very successful conference in the long term, if we can work through these kinds of issues."